Abstract: A method for producing a rotor assembly of a heat generator. The rotor assembly includes an inner rotor and an outer rotor that is rotated integrally with the inner rotor. The producing method includes forming the inner rotor from iron or iron alloy, and casting the outer rotor around the inner rotor by aluminum or aluminum alloy so that the outer rotor is firmly fixed to the inner rotor without slippage when heated.

Abstract: A rotation balancing mechanism of an orbiting scroll of a scroll-type compressor that reduces the outer diameter of the compressor housing. A compression mechanism includes a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll. The compression mechanism is coupled to a support frame at the front of a drive motor. A drive crankshaft is located between the drive shaft of the motor and a base plate of the orbiting scroll. The drive crankshaft causes the orbiting scroll to orbit. Follower crankshafts are located between the support frame and the base plate. The follower crankshafts permit the orbiting scroll to orbit and prevent the orbiting scroll from rotating about its own axis. A central balance weight is located on the drive crankshaft. The central balance weight opposes part of the centrifugal force that is applied to the drive crankshaft when the orbiting scroll orbits. Outer balance weights are attached to the follower crankshafts to oppose the remainder of the centrifugal force.

Abstract: This invention aims to allow one of a pair of auxiliary apparatus and the other of the auxiliary apparatus to be handled independently of each other, while satisfying the need to be installed in a limited boarding space and the need to be produced at low production costs. For this purpose, this invention allows an autotensioner idler (ID) which serves as one of the auxiliary apparatus and a viscous heater (VH) which serves as the other of the auxiliary apparatus to transmit power to each other and to be attachable to and detachable from each other.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type supplementary heat generator having a housing assembly defining a fluid containing chamber including a hermetically sealed heat generating chamber in which a viscous fluid is filled to generate heat when the viscous fluid is subjected to shearing action applied by the rotation of a rotor element rotatably arranged in the heat generating chamber. The fluid containing chamber has a predetermined substantial volume with respect to which the volume of the viscous fluid filled in the fluid containing chamber is set at a value between 50% through 70%, i.e., the filling rate of the viscous fluid relative to the substantial volume of the fluid containing chamber of the viscous fluid type heat generator is determined to be a value between 0.5 through 0.7. The determination of the filling rate of the viscous fluid is made so as to protect an oil sealing device sealing the heat generating chamber from being damaged or broken by an excessive pressure prevailing in the heat generating chamber.

Abstract: A heating system incorporating a heat generator confining therein a heat-generative fluid to viscously generate heat when a shearing action is applied to the fluid by a rotor element, and a heat-generation controller including a heat-generation adjusting actuator which adjustably changes the heat-generating performance of the heat generator on the basis of a signal detected as a first control signal indicating a change in the rotating speed of the rotor element and a preset reference signal. A second control signal detected to indicate a temperature of the heat-generative fluid is used to adjustably change the preset reference signal. The operation of the heating system is controlled by a method in which the first control signal is compared with the preset reference signal to determine whether or not the heat-generation adjusting actuator should actuated to change the heat-generating performance of the heat generator.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heat generating apparatus having a housing forming a cylindrical heat-generating chamber having a cylindrical wall surface and an axially spaced flat annular wall surface, and a rotatably supported rotor element having a cylindrical base portion and an axially extending tubular portion integral with the base portion forming a substantially cylindrical outer face and a cavity portion used as a fluid-storing chamber, the cylindrical portion of the rotor element cooperating with the cylindrical wall surface of the housing to define a main part of a heat-generating gap holding a viscous fluid which generates heat in response to an application of a shearing force to the viscous fluid in response to the rotation of the rotor element.

Abstract: As a viscous fluid (F) contained in a vehicular heat generator provided with a rotor (33), a non-Newtonian fluid having an apparent viscosity that decreases as the shear rate of the rotor (33) increases (e.g., a kind of silicone oil) is employed. The nominal viscosity of the viscous fluid (F) is in the range of 10,000 cSt to 200,000 cSt. If such viscous fluid is employed, the viscous fluid (F) maintains its shear heat generating function over an extended period even under circumstances where the fluid (F) is subjected to over-shearing by over-rotation of the rotor (33). In addition, low-temperature starting of the rotor is facilitated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerating system and a method of operating a refrigerating system. The refrigerating system includes a compressor, a gas cooler used as a heat-dissipation type heat exchanger, an expansion valve used as a throttling means, an evaporator used as a heat-absorption type heat exchanger and an accumulator, which are connected in series with each other to form a closed circuit. The closed circuit is adapted so that the higher pressure of the closed circuit becomes the supercritical pressure of a refrigerant circulating the closed circuit. This has a control characteristic property wherein the lower evaporating pressure increases as the higher pressure increases.

Abstract: A viscous heater is provided which can carry out full heat exchange securely. For instance, fins 2c through 2f are formed in a housing, and project into a water jacket RW. Thus, a surface area of a wall surface constituting the water jacket RW is enlarged, and a circulating fluid, taken in through a water inlet port 8 and delivered out to an external heating circuit through a water outlet port 9, is circulated along a specific route.

Abstract: An improved viscous heater for a vehicle heating system is disclosed. The viscous heater has a heat generator including a rotor that agitates viscous fluid to generate the heat. A vehicle engine transmits its rotation to the rotor via an electromagnetic clutch. A thermosensitive switch is attached to the heat generator and selectively connects and disconnects the electromagnetic clutch with electric power source. The thermosensitive switch is selectively activated and deactivated based on magnitude of the heat generated by the agitated viscous fluid. The thermosensitive switch is deactivated when the ambient temperature is in excess of the predetermined uppermost value (T) and activated when the temperature in smaller than the predetermined lowermost value (T-.DELTA.T).

Abstract: An improved viscous fluid type heater is disclosed. The heater has a heating chamber and a heat exchange chamber. The heating chamber accommodates viscous fluid and a rotor that rotates and shears the viscous fluid to produce heat. The heat exchange chamber allows circulating fluid to flow therethrough, whereby the heat is transmitted to the heat exchange chamber from the heating chamber to heat the circulating fluid. A reservoir chamber communicates with the heating chamber for an auxiliary reservoir of the viscous fluid. A stirring member is provided in the reservoir chamber and stirs the viscous fluid in the reservoir chamber.

Abstract: A torque limiting device for a compressor. An input shaft of the compressor is connected to the torque limiting device so that the power source driving the compressor will not be affected if abnormal conditions cause the compressor to generate an excessive load. A flexible connector is located between the power source and the compressor. The flexible connector is deformed when torque is applied to the compressor input shaft. When the applied torque exceeds a predetermined value, a spring is permitted to expand axially, which uncouples the compressor from the power source. The torque at which the device uncouples is stable and predictable.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for transmitting a rotational power from a pulley to a drive shaft of a compressor is disclosed. A coil spring is mounted on the drive shaft to absorb a load applied to the drive shaft when power is transmitted. The coil spring is arranged to be deformed upon generation of the load. A structure that transmits the power to the coil spring is securely attached to the pulley and coupled to the coil spring with a predetermined interference.

Abstract: A torque limiting apparatus is located between a power source and a driven apparatus. A number of breakable power transmission members connect a drive rotor to a driven rotor. The breakable members are fractured to disconnect the driven rotor from the drive rotor when the load applied by the driven apparatus exceeds a predetermined value. A promoting member is located near at least one of the power transmission members for promoting breakage when the load causes the driven rotor to rotate relative to the drive rotor. The breakable members are broken consecutively. The breakable members are not significantly affected by fatigue.

Abstract: A coolant circulation system for circulating a coolant through a coolant passage of a liquid-cooled engine, a radiator of an engine cooling system and a heat exchanger of a passenger compartment heating system. The coolant circulation system includes a coolant circuit provided for a fluidic communication between the coolant passage, the radiator and the heat exchanger. A coolant is forcibly circulated in the coolant circuit by a coolant pump. The coolant circulation system further includes a supplementary heat source arranged in the coolant circuit to heat the coolant flowing out of the heat exchanger. The coolant heated by the supplementary heat source is directed to the coolant passage. The supplementary heat source may be formed as a viscous fluid type heat generator.

Abstract: A heat generator has a heating chamber and a pair of heat exchange chambers located adjacent to the heating chamber. The heating chamber includes inner walls and accommodates viscous fluid. A rotor is located in the heating chamber and has shearing surfaces facing the inner walls of the heating chamber. The rotor is rotated for shearing the viscous fluid that occupies the clearance between the inner walls of the heating chamber and the working surfaces thereby generating heat. Each inner wall includes a center region, which is located in the vicinity of the axis of the rotor, and a peripheral region, which surrounds the center region. Heat generated in the heating chamber is transferred to the heat exchange chambers and heats circulating fluid in the heat exchange chambers. Each inner wall includes grooves extending radially from the peripheral region to the center region. Each groove includes a bottom and a pair of side walls.

Abstract: A vehicle heater for generating heat for heating a vehicle compartment. The heater includes a rotor rotated by a vehicle engine. The rotor has a predetermined thickness and a peripheral edge. The heater further includes a heating chamber for accommodating the rotor and a fluid. The fluid is heated in the heating chamber when the rotor rotates. The heater further includes a reservoir. The fluid from the heating chamber is stored in the reservoir. The heater further includes a return passage connecting the reservoir and the heating chamber. The fluid returns from the heating chamber to the reservoir through the return passage. The return passage has an entrance opening in an inner wall of the heating chamber. The entrance opening faces the peripheral edge of the rotor, and the maximum width of the entrance opening is greater than the thickness of the rotor.

Abstract: In the heater of the present invention, a heating chamber accommodates a viscous fluid. A rotor is located in the heating chamber. The rotor rotates and shears the viscous fluid to generate heat. The heat generated in the heating chamber is transferred to the heat exchanger and heats a fluid that flows through the heat exchanger. A reservoir stores the viscous fluid. The reservoir has an upper portion and a lower portion, and the lower portion has a greater volume than the upper position. A return passage connects the heating chamber to the reservoir so that the viscous fluid moves from the heating chamber to the reservoir when the rotor rotates. A supply passage connects the reservoir to the heating chamber so that the viscous fluid flows from the reservoir to the heating chamber.